Wedding *Hinting* for a seating class upgrade? (Honeymoon)

[musey]

We're seated in standard economy on Air New Zealand for our October honeymoon. I've never flown better except for a free upgrade to first class when I was a child traveling alone. I'd have loved a "better" seating class, but I just couldn't justify the expense.

Then again, we'll be on 11+ hour flights

(yeah, my longest flight in recent years was the ~5hr one to Honolulu)


Anyone see the episode of Friends when Chandler and Monica are heading out for their honeymoon, and the just-married-couple in front of them gets bumped up to first class for free? Um.... does this happen?

Should I wear a "Just Married" t-shirt and be a lot more PDA-ish than usual?

(95% kidding)

....Seriously?

 

[noelwr]

sorry to rain down on your parade, but I highly doubt it.

I am a Platinum frequent flyer (I fly business class for work), but when I fly economy for private, never once have they offered to bump me up. then again, the flights I take are usually full so there is perhaps no room in business. if they can make 3x the price on a business class ticket than on economy, they''d rather sell the seat. I have also tried to use my frequent flyer miles to buy business class seats but they are always conveniently "not available"... yah right!

it never hurts to ask! if it isn''t a full flight and they have seats available, just say it''s your honeymoon and you''re wondering if...

good luck and will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[Krissie]

You know, I really doubt they would give you an upgrade for a long haul flight like that. I fly business transatlantic when I''ve got work to do, and have a lot of miles, tier points, you name it - and the best "private" upgrade I got when going to Europe a couple of months ago on an economy ticket was to premium economy.

Once I got lucky and was bumped from premium economy to business on a BA flight to London, but that''s because I flew Saturday morning and there were only 3 other people booked in premium - it made sense to move everyone up to business.

If you are hoping for an upgrade, I would NOT wear any "just married" gear. I just wouldn''t. I''d say your best chances are if you look professional and are flying at an off time. You''re talking about a difference in each ticket price of at least a few thousand dollars, so I''d probably not get my hopes up. Then, you may be pleasantly surprised if they do something special for you.

 

[musey]

Date: 6/25/2008 1:42:14 PM
Author: noelwr

if they can make 3x the price on a business class ticket than on economy, they''d rather sell the seat. I have also tried to use my frequent flyer miles to buy business class seats but they are always conveniently ''not available''... yah right!

it never hurts to ask! if it isn''t a full flight and they have seats available, just say it''s your honeymoon and you''re wondering if...

good luck and will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Yeah I''m wondering about the full vs. not... I''ve seen people waiting at the gate to see if their name would be called to get bumped, but I always assumed they had to pay for it and get on a waitlist. Since I did get bumped for free that one time when I was younger I thought maybe it was possible!

 

[musey]

Date: 6/25/2008 1:46:45 PM
Author: Krissie

If you are hoping for an upgrade, I would NOT wear any 'just married' gear. I just wouldn't.

Yes, it was a joke

Some PSers seem to be able to pull off typed jokes, and I am usually one of them, but I guess not this time!

I'd say your best chances are if you look professional and are flying at an off time. You're talking about a difference in each ticket price of at least a few thousand dollars, so I'd probably not get my hopes up. Then, you may be pleasantly surprised if they do something special for you.

Yeah, both ways are red-eyes... first one departs at 11:30pm and the return is 10:15pm. That fact is actually the only reason it occurred to me to ask.

I wasn't really asking whether I should 'hope' for it to happen, but rather how people generally go about getting bumped (getting on a waitlist for a no-show, or underbooked flight... etc.)--as I know it happens, I just don't know how. ETA: For all I know they could be paying an extra $1k to up their seating class, but I sincerely doubt it--because if so, why wouldn't they just buy a first/business class seat to begin with?

 

[Krissie]

Also, wanted to add that sometimes you can get an upgrade on the DAY OF for much cheaper than it would have cost to book a business or first class ticket. I flew United from London to the US over Christmas last year, super busy time at the airport, etc. and asked what it would cost to upgrade to business. It was only $700 - I say "only", because when I booked the ticket the difference was more like $4,500.

I''ve also seen people ask for an upgrade on the plane, although this is from business to first class. I assume if you''re willing to pay, they''ll make it happen.

 

[Krissie]

Date: 6/25/2008 1:53:55 PM
Author: musey

Date: 6/25/2008 1:46:45 PM
Author: Krissie

If you are hoping for an upgrade, I would NOT wear any ''just married'' gear. I just wouldn''t.

Yes, it was a joke

Some PSers seem to be able to pull off typed jokes, and I am usually one of them, but I guess not this time!

I''d say your best chances are if you look professional and are flying at an off time. You''re talking about a difference in each ticket price of at least a few thousand dollars, so I''d probably not get my hopes up. Then, you may be pleasantly surprised if they do something special for you.

Yeah, both ways are red-eyes... first one departs at 11:30pm and the return is 10:15pm.

I wasn''t really asking whether I should hope for it to happen, but rather how people generally go about getting bumped (getting on a waitlist for a no-show, or underbooked flight... etc.)--as I know it happens, I just don''t know how.

Yeah, probably not going to happen on a red eye, but I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I''m sorry my experience isn''t more encouraging, but there is nothing wrong with trying

 

[Courtneylub]

That episode was great, Musey. Where they aren''t as lovey dovey as the other couple getting all the upgrades..haha.

I would try it...you never know! I know I''m going to try it. Ours is a much shorter flight though...2.5 hours.

 

[musey]

Date: 6/25/2008 1:57:01 PM
Author: Courtneylub
I would try it...you never know! I know I'm going to try it. Ours is a much shorter flight though...2.5 hours.

Lucky girl!! I'm dreading all the travel time that this trip is going to require. About 31 hours in the air and 38 hours in the rental car. I am not into the whole "the trip is the journey" thing

 

[swimmer]

The good news (other than its your honeymoon!) is that you are on Air New Zealand.
They are so wonderful! Personal TVs with movies and tons of selections, and even economy has decent legroom.
Above all, the free NZ ice cream snack...yummy!
Totally my fave airline and I travel tons. They are partners with United, so when you check in, do get your miles!

 

[musey]

Date: 6/25/2008 1:56:22 PM
Author: Krissie

Yeah, probably not going to happen on a red eye, but I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I''m sorry my experience isn''t more encouraging, but there is nothing wrong with trying

So red-eyes are generally more heavily booked than daylight flights? That seems so counter-intuitive!

I feel like I should know more about this stuff, given that I fly 10-12 times per year... I''ve just never taken anything into my own hands before, I guess.

 

[musey]

Date: 6/25/2008 1:59:51 PM
Author: swimmer
The good news (other than its your honeymoon!) is that you are on Air New Zealand.

They are so wonderful! Personal TVs with movies and tons of selections, and even economy has decent legroom.

Above all, the free NZ ice cream snack...yummy!

Totally my fave airline and I travel tons. They are partners with United, so when you check in, do get your miles!

That''s good to hear! I''d read some not-so-great reviews on TripAdvisor, but I do trust PSers'' opinions over those on forums that I don''t frequent.

Though we don''t get personal TVs on our first leg... Their Los Angeles to Fiji flight, for whatever stupid reason, happens to fall into their "mainscreen entertainment" route list

 

[Krissie]

Date: 6/25/2008 2:01:16 PM
Author: musey

Date: 6/25/2008 1:56:22 PM
Author: Krissie

Yeah, probably not going to happen on a red eye, but I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I''m sorry my experience isn''t more encouraging, but there is nothing wrong with trying

So red-eyes are generally more heavily booked than daylight flights? That seems so counter-intuitive!

I feel like I should know more about this stuff, given that I fly 10-12 times per year... I''ve just never taken anything into my own hands before, I guess.

I''d say practically everyone wants an upgrade on a redeye flight so that they can get some sleep!! I have never travelled with ANZ, but I would assume that their business class beds recline either completely or close to it (those lie-flat beds are AWESOME) which makes it a really desireable option for a long-haul overnight flight. Most people try to travel redeye to maximize time at their destination, rather than giving up a daylight day to travel. But NZ is quite a faraway destination, so maybe that would be different ... just speaking from my experience travelling to and from Western Europe. And I can''t even pretend to know what the time zoone change is like for NZ - so maybe I am not qualified to discuss this at all

 

[musey]

Date: 6/25/2008 2:05:42 PM
Author: Krissie

Author: musey

Date: 6/25/2008 1:56:22 PM
Author: Krissie
Yeah, probably not going to happen on a red eye, but I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I'm sorry my experience isn't more encouraging, but there is nothing wrong with trying

So red-eyes are generally more heavily booked than daylight flights? That seems so counter-intuitive!

I feel like I should know more about this stuff, given that I fly 10-12 times per year... I've just never taken anything into my own hands before, I guess.

I'd say practically everyone wants an upgrade on a redeye flight so that they can get some sleep!! I have never travelled with ANZ, but I would assume that their business class beds recline either completely or close to it (those lie-flat beds are AWESOME) which makes it a really desireable option for a long-haul overnight flight. Most people try to travel redeye to maximize time at their destination, rather than giving up a daylight day to travel. But NZ is quite a faraway destination, so maybe that would be different ... just speaking from my experience travelling to and from Western Europe. And I can't even pretend to know what the time zoone change is like for NZ - so maybe I am not qualified to discuss this at all

Ohhh, that makes more sense!

Yeah the time difference is crazy... We leave at 11:30pm on a Sunday, fly 11 hours, and arrive at 5:10 the following Tuesday. (!) Coming home, we leave at 10:15pm on Saturday and arrive at 2:30pm that same day

 

[Pandora II]

For some bizarre reason I seem to get upgrades more often than not, and normally when I''m looking super scruffy!

The guy who is helping us plan our honeymoon has told me to make sure to write to the airline to tell them about my back and ask for one of the rows with extra leg room, and just ''mention'' it''s my honeymoon. He''s pretty sure it should get me an upgrade.

He flies back and forth every 6 weeks to Sri Lanka and seems to get a lot of upgrades himself.

 

[Dreamgirl]

Date: 6/25/2008 1:31:31 PM
Author:musey
Anyone see the episode of Friends when Chandler and Monica are heading out for their honeymoon, and the just-married-couple in front of them gets bumped up to first class for free?

HAVE I?! Heck yeah. lol! Good episode. My luck would be just like Monica and Chandler's. Of course the couple before gets the bump-up to first class. Then the hotel?!

Im no flight expert but you could always say at the counter how your just married and so excited. You could always ask if they bump-up. Who knows, if they have extra seats, it may be possible. It wouldn't hurt to ask lol

I would!

 

[musey]

Date: 6/25/2008 3:51:06 PM
Author: Dreamgirl

Date: 6/25/2008 1:31:31 PM
Author:musey
Anyone see the episode of Friends when Chandler and Monica are heading out for their honeymoon, and the just-married-couple in front of them gets bumped up to first class for free?

HAVE I?! Heck yeah. lol! Good episode. My luck would be just like Monica and Chandler's. Of course the couple before gets the bump-up to first class. Then the hotel?!

Mine too

This is so what would happen to me! FI has good luck on his own, but I bring us both down

 

[Dreamgirl]

aw MAN that stinks! lol I know what its like. Though, I remember as a child I always had the greatest luck. It went downhill sometime after......lol

 

[Haven]

I was just bumped up from economy to first class on my flight from London to Athens. When they found out we were traveling with 40 high school students they said we deserved a little pampering! (We flew British Airways, and it was heaven. I was actually sorry when I woke up from my lovely nap and realized we were starting our descent.)

So, it happens, and I always say it never hurts to ask.

ETA: They also gave us 20 pounds worth of vouchers for the Heathrow airport. So nice!

 

[musey]

I'm thinking we will also try to get to the airport very early... since it's such a late flight, it wouldn't be hard to do, and if they do do a waitlist for upgrades we might have a better chance of getting on the top of it if we get there earlier. ...right?

 

[Dreamgirl]

Yeah, I would think so. Maybe they can put your name on a list. And see if all the first class seats fill up. If not, a possible bumpity bump may happen.

lol

 

[musey]

Date: 6/25/2008 4:16:51 PM
Author: Dreamgirl
Yeah, I would think so. Maybe they can put your name on a list. And see if all the first class seats fill up. If not, a possible bumpity bump may happen.

lol

Hehe, thanks for humoring me, dreamgirl

 

[Dreamgirl]

hehe!

Anytime.

 

[indecisive]

I took my bouquet with me when we flew to Bali for our honeymoon(via Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore). I took it because I didn''t want it preserved (where would I put it?) and I figured I would rather enjoy it a little longer and throw it away in an exotic location rather than the trash can in my apartment. Now I always want to travel with one. It smelled so good for all 46 hours of travel and even though we didn''t get bumped to first we had 3 seats to ourselves the whole time, extra special service, free alcoholic drinks, and even a cake to take home from Singapore Air. Good luck w/ the upgrade but if that doesn''t work out at least you will get good service!

 

[Kismet]

We went to Italy for our honeymoon and the plane stopped in London both going and coming back. On the way back we stopped by the counter to see how much it would be to pay for an upgrade to first or business class for the London to Boston leg of the trip. We told them we were returning from our honeymoon and wanted that last bit of luxury. They responded by saying that business class was pretty open and they moved us up for nothing. This was British Airways btw.